As a blended family couple, it’s not uncommon to experience sexual pitfalls that bring additional stress to your relationship. How do you prevent physical intimacy issues and work through those that have shown up? 

In this episode, Ron Deal and Gayla Grace talk about how to build trust and emotional safety to overcome common pitfalls such as: the comparison trap, fear and insecurity from "ghosts" of marriage past, unlearning old rhythms of sexual practice and learning new ones, and lingering messages from prior sexual experiences that can inhibit healthy physical intimacy in marriage. In addition, you’ll understand more about the biblical view of healthy sexuality and why God established boundaries around it.

Show Notes and Resources
Make plans to join us at the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry! 
Check out where Ron will be speaking. 
Listen to or watch episode 30, 66, or 131 of the FamilyLife Blended Podcast
Send a donation and get a copy of The Smart Stepfamily Marriage 

As a blended family couple, it’s not uncommon to experience sexual pitfalls that bring additional stress to your relationship. How do you prevent physical intimacy issues and work through those that have shown up? In this episode, Ron Deal and Gayla Grace talk about how to build trust and emotional safety to overcome common pitfalls such as: the comparison trap, fear and insecurity from "ghosts" of marriage past, unlearning old rhythms of sexual practice and learning new ones, and lingering messages from prior sexual experiences that can inhibit healthy physical intimacy in marriage. In addition, you’ll understand more about the biblical view of healthy sexuality and why God established boundaries around it.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li>Make plans to <a href="https://www.summitonstepfamilies.com/">join us at the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry</a>! </li>
<li><a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/events/find-an-event">Check out where Ron will be speaking</a>. </li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyLifeBlended/podcasts">Listen to or watch episode 30, 66, or 131</a> of the FamilyLife Blended Podcast</li>
<li>Send a donation and <a href="https://donate.familylife.com/august-2024/the-smart-stepfamily-marriage/?cru_source=2403BP&amp;cru_medium=podcast&amp;cru_campaign=August2024">get a copy of The Smart Stepfamily Marriage </a></li>
</ul>

FamilyLife Blended® provides timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families and those who love them. Join Ron L. Deal, LMFT, LPC as he and his guests discuss a wide variety of marriage, family, and relationship topics related to blended families.

Timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families with Ron Deal, LMFT, LPC.

FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

Stepfamily couples can experience sexual pitfalls that bring additional stress. Ron Deal & Gayla Grace talk about how to build trust & emotional safety to overcome the comparison trap, fear & insecurity, & other lingering messages that affect intimacy.

145 Physical Intimacy Issues for Stepfamily Couples

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2024-11-04_S06_E150.pdf

Foster care and adoption present difficult dynamics with issues similar to blended families. How do you help a child cope with ambiguous loss or connect as a parent when children act out from prior wounds? The loss that results from separation from a first family carries deep wounds that manifest themselves in misbehavior. Many children can’t verbalize their hurts, and families don’t have access to all the pieces of the puzzle. Love isn’t enough to fix the brokenness in a child, particularly when trauma is part of the story. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Jenni Lord for answers to these complex issues.

Show Notes and Resources
Pre- order Ron's new book: The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself 
Learn more about Jenni and Chosen
Ron's speaking schedule
Get our monthly newsletter
Learn more about blended family resources
Get The Summit on Stepfamily Ministry, All-Access Digital Pass 

Foster care and adoption present difficult dynamics with issues similar to blended families. How do you help a child cope with ambiguous loss or connect as a parent when children act out from prior wounds? The loss that results from separation from a first family carries deep wounds that manifest themselves in misbehavior. Many children can’t verbalize their hurts, and families don’t have access to all the pieces of the puzzle. Love isn’t enough to fix the brokenness in a child, particularly when trauma is part of the story. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Jenni Lord for answers to these complex issues.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li>Pre- order Ron's new book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Marriage-Relationship-Understanding-Managing/dp/1546007385/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3JX9CIO7FI8R&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._zTeFbc5iEa4IzknmWPta_zMPma4CnM7hhzBsa16ZlzT2kCWWSjuA4LQRDtIMSBjTaajN552s_F5AuAo7mAz4kdqvcHCdJiT6UGUBYU9JM9h1tOkn21bDavrKGDOIETGSFn7eLgBYMyctMfH2fvLbdVPZPa3CVrLp1OGTCueaxpj1Ao0MnOI7WtjXrq5yD5ygilSh6Urh9d5jWaN9gJrHsNLuoNxfpes-uoEH3U8glE.6Jdb_SUgh9o0yr6dCHCST2rXz4eXyZ4hcqurlFxfXbw&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=the+mindful+marriage&amp;qid=1716395318&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C85&amp;sr=8-1">The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself </a></li>
<li><a href="https://chosen.care/staff/jenni-c-lord/">Learn more about Jenni and Chosen</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/events/find-an-event">Ron's speaking schedule</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/familylife-blended-newsletter/">Get our monthly newsletter</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://linktr.ee/familylifeblended">Learn more about blended family resources</a> </li>
<li>Get The Summit on Stepfamily Ministry, <a href="https://shop.familylife.com/product-category/marriage/blended-family/?filters=format[2800]">All-Access Digital Pass </a></li>
</ul>

Foster care & adoption present difficult issues with similarities to stepfamilies. How do you help a child cope with ambiguous loss or connect as a parent when children act out from prior wounds? Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Jenni Lord for help.

150 Parenting Foster Kids & Adopted Kids

Laura Husband, daughter of Columbia astronaut Rick Husband, was 12 years old when she endured her dad’s very public death. Laura shares with Ron Deal the layers of grief that followed with the lingering effects and expectations after an astronaut dies. When her mom began dating three years later, she felt abandoned and without a voice to the changes in her life. Her mom later remarried and Laura began an adjustment to blended family life with her new stepdad, Bill. Laura shares the loving relationship she and Bill eventually formed and how Bill chose a path, separate from her dad, that drew her in.

Show Notes and Resources
Get the Summit All-Access Pass
Pre- order Ron's new book: The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself 
The list of Smart Stepfamily therapists and coaches.
Consider supporting resources for blended families with a tax deductible gift.

Laura Husband, daughter of Columbia astronaut Rick Husband, was 12 years old when she endured her dad’s very public death. Laura shares with Ron Deal the layers of grief that followed with the lingering effects and expectations after an astronaut dies. When her mom began dating three years later, she felt abandoned and without a voice to the changes in her life. Her mom later remarried and Laura began an adjustment to blended family life with her new stepdad, Bill. Laura shares the loving relationship she and Bill eventually formed and how Bill chose a path, separate from her dad, that drew her in.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.familylifeallaccess.com/">Get the Summit All-Access Pass</a> </li>
<li>Pre- order Ron's new book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546007385?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_T2CY7VPMYX3J40B2VR06&amp;ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_T2CY7VPMYX3J40B2VR06&amp;social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_T2CY7VPMYX3J40B2VR06&amp;skipTwisterOG=2">The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself </a></li>
<li><a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/smart-help/therapy-providers">The list of Smart Stepfamily therapists and coaches.</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Consider supporting resources for blended families with a tax deductible gift.</a> </li>
</ul>

Laura Husband, daughter of Columbia astronaut Rick Husband, was 12 years old when she endured her dad’s very public death. Laura shares with Ron Deal her layers of grief that followed and her experience growing up blended after her mom’s remarriage.

149 A Special Edition: Growing Up Blended After Parental Loss: Laura Husband

How do you identify narcissism or cope with a narcissist? Ron Deal talks with counselor Laurel Slade-Waggoner about strategies in a relationship when someone seeks to control, manipulate, shift blame, gaslight, or behave in other narcissistic ways.

Show Notes and Resources
Check out Laurel's website and available books.
Laurel's Podcast
Join us for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry!
Ron's comprehensive list of Recognized Smart Stepfamily Therapy Providers
Check out everything FamilyLife Blended has to offer.
Send in a tax deductible gift to the FamilyLife Blended Team.

How do you identify narcissism or cope with a narcissist? Ron Deal talks with counselor Laurel Slade-Waggoner about strategies in a relationship when someone seeks to control, manipulate, shift blame, gaslight, or behave in other narcissistic ways.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.slade-waggonercounselingservices.com/shop">Check out Laurel's website and available books.</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/HelpIHaveaNarcissistInMyLifePodcast">Laurel's Podcast</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.summitonstepfamilies.com/">Join us for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry!</a> </li>
<li>Ron's comprehensive list of <a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/smart-help/therapy-providers">Recognized Smart Stepfamily Therapy Providers</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://linktr.ee/familylifeblended">Check out everything FamilyLife Blended has to offer.</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Send in a tax deductible gift to the FamilyLife Blended Team.</a> </li>
</ul>

145 Physical Intimacy Issues for Stepfamily Couples

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